Wall News

AN EXCERPT FROM A REPORT ISSUED BY
THE UNION OF AGRICULTURAL WORK COMMITTEES (UAWC)

Gaza: Occupation Forces bulldozed 2200 dunums of land and destroyed more than 100 greenhouses since the start of the most recent attack

PENGON, August 12, 2006

A specialized team from the Union of the Agricultural Work Committees conducted a comprehensive survey of the damage to the agricultural sector as a result of the latest Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. Findings indicate that military bulldozers have razed more than 2200 dunums ((1 dumum equals 1000 meters square )) of land, destroyed more than 100 greenhouses and ten(10) poultry and cattle farms, in addition to a number of privately owned agricultural pools and irrigation networks that supply more than 1500 dunums of land with water during the latest incursions.

More than 540 dunums of land in the eastern part of Gaza City, particularly Sheeb Al-Soorani have traditionally been planted with citrus and olive trees for decades. This land has been completely flattened. Furthermore, two agricultural (ground) wells, and irrigation networks providing more than 400 dunums of land with water, and fences that surround parcels of land have also been ruined.

In Beit Hanun, two greenhouses, two agricultural wells and irrigation networks that provided water to 300 dunums were similarly destroyed and approximately 1000 dunums of land were bulldozed.

In Beit Lahiya, 260 dunums of land were uprooted and 50 greenhouses were razed to the ground, whilst in the central part of the Strip (Al-Maghazi), 400 dunums of land were leveled and nearly 48 greenhouses and irrigation networks providing an irrigated area of 800 dunums of land with water were destroyed.

These agricultural areas have been turned into sandy dunes that Israeli forces use as military bases. The remaining land parcels lack irrigation systems and water sources as a result of the destruction of the main and branch lines of the networks and the damage to the main supplying groundwater wells.